Where were you on 11 February 1990?

I have no idea what I was doing twenty years ago when Madiba was released from prison.

I do remember that I on 11 February 1990, I was 24, lived in Tableview and drove a 1976 Ford Escort called Sunshine. I don’t think I even knew who Nelson Mandela was. I grew up in an apolitical, irreligious family, and kept those blinkers on until well into my thirties. All I was interested in was boys, parties, getting to work sober and submitting my Unisa assignments on time.

So I looked it up in my diary: It was a Sunday. I had a rehearsal, and my folks came round for a braai, which was apparently very relaxing. Some oke called Ian invited me to Villa Revue.

Villa Revue! Now THAT I remember! It was a scaly club in Maitland which was open on Sunday evenings – unheard of in the old South Africa. Late Final played. Jislaaik, it rocked! Late Final still plays in the Beer Tent at the finish of the Argus Cycle Tour. Which is where, for the last fourteen years, I’ve stood and drunk beer for four hours after spending six hours on a small black saddle.

Oh dear. Just more proof that the more things change the more they stay the same.

7 Responses

I sat and watched most of the utterly boring commentary on SABC. They had just the one guy who used up all his words and imagination after the first half hour and, as far as I can remember, Madiba was very late making his appearance! By the time he did arrive I was ready to hurl something at the television! Still it was pretty exciting after that. Ashamed to say, though, that I switched to something else half way through his speech later on.

I was at Woolsack House middle campus, UCT. My house mate Fracis who is now in India at our consulate did not sleep at all from the excitement. He couldn’t wait to get to town even though there wasn’t much transport from Rondebosch if you didn’t have a skedonk and the only man who could lend me his was an American housemate Scott Lyle and for some reason his car (peugot 404) wasn’t in the parking lot. I watched it from the TV set and of course we fought for space in the reception area. My friend and I decided to walk to Woolies in Claremont. Sunday was our food shopping day anyway.